Combination pivotal electrode vacuum tube and magnetic actuating devices



April 9, 1957 2,787,839

E. E. TAYLOR COMBINATION PIVOTAL. ELECTRODE VACUUM TUBE AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES Filed May 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward E. Tay /0r INVENTOR.

BY zfw 1 M Arromgsv April 9, 1957 E. E. TAYLOR 2,787,839

COMBINATION pzvom. ELECTRODE VACUUM mam AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES Filed May 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Edward E. Toy/0r INVENTOR.

BY 1M1? MZM I ATmH/VE Y I April 9, 1957 E. E. TAYLOR 2,787,339

COMBINATION PIVOTAL ELECTRODE VACUUM TUBE AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 11, 1951 Edward E. Tag/or INVENTOR.

A TTORNE y April 9, 1957 Filed May 11, 1951 E. E. TAYLOR COMBINATION PIVOTAL ELECTRODE VACUUM TUBE AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 WAT, f

Edward E. Tag/or INVENTOR.

BY l3. W

ATTORNEY Aprll 9, 1957 E. E. TAYLOR 2,787,839

' COMBINATION PIVOTAL ELECTRODE VACUUM TUBE AND MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES Filed May 11, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Edward E Tag/or INVEN TOR.

BYIML 6.

A TTORNE Y United States COMBINATION PIVOTAL ELECTRfiDE VACUUM TUBE AND 'MAGNETIC ACTUATING DEVICES This invention relates to a vacuum tube adapted to have its 'etfective plate area between anode and cathode varied by mechanical means operable externally of the tube.

It is an object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube of this class which may have one electrode pivotal with relation to the other, and which may have means thereon to operate responsive to an external force to pivot such electrode, thereby varying the eifective plate area thereof.

:It is also an object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube of this class adapted for employment in a device for measuring magnitude of inclination and direction of inclination of a well bore.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube of this class adapted for use in devices such as weight indicators, calipers, thermometers, and pressure indicators.

It a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube of this class which can be standardized, so that a plurality of identically constructed tubes may be employed in a combination device, such as a magnitude of inclination and direction of inclination measuring device, which is adapted to be lowered into a well bore, and which is adapted at the top of the well, to indicate and also record on a continuous chart graduated .for depth, the magnitude and direction of inclination taken by the device as it descends the well bore.

.Itis also afurther object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube of this class which has oscillation dampening means on the pivot-a1 electrode, and which has means thereon to insure the completion of the electrical circuit across the pivot therefor.

It is also an object of this invention toprovide means in devices of this class .for insuring that the wires do not become tangled and wound about the axial element by providing a'brushless current transfer means for the conductor at substantially the longitudinal axis of the .device.

It :is ,yet a further object of this invention to provide a vacuum tube in a device of this class which has dampening means thereon to control the movement of the direction of inclination assembly to a gradual movement.

It is still a further object of this invention "to provide a vacuum "tube having one electrodepreferably the anode, movable responsive to a force operative from the 'exterior of the tube, such combination providing, in effect, a 'stepl'ess electronic rheos'tat requiring practically no force for its operation, thereby enabling the taking of measurements of'the most minute operational forces.

Other and "further objects will be apparent when the specification is considered in connection with 'the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation, including details of a preferred modification of apparatus for measuring the magnitude 'and direction of inclination;

Fig. 2 "is a diagrammatic view showing arrangement 1 of galvanometers at the top (if the well, and includes a tent O Patented Apr. 9, 1957 section of photosensitive film on which both magnitude and direction of inclination are plotted by means of light beams reflected on thefilm by'the galvanometers;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing enlarged details of the direction of inclination measuring apparatus of this invention; N

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan vieW'ta-ken along line --44 of Fig. 3

Fig. 5 is a sectional bottom view taken along :line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through a typical :tube construction having apivo'tal anode;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken along dine J -7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing the preferred magnitude of inclination measuring apparatus "of Fig. 1 when the inclinometer housing is tilted with respect to the vertical;

Fig. .9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing enlarged details of the frictionless and brushless circuit completion-apparatus shown inFigs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing details of a preferred construction of the hearing plate of the magnitude of inclination measuring apparatus;

Fig. v11 is a sectional elevation of another modification of magnitude of inclination measuring apparatus;

Fig. 12 :is an elevation taken along :line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a third modification --of magnitude of inclination measuring apparatus;

Fig. 14 is an elevation taken along line 14-44 of Fig. 13; a

Fig. 15 is a view showing the tube of this invention ice employed in one modification of weight indicator;

Fig. 16 is a view showing the tube iof this invention employed in acalipen;

:Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing the tube of this invention employed in one modification of thermometer;

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic view showing the .tube of this invention connected in a typical electrical circuit therefor;

Fig. 19 is a view showing the tube of this invention employed in anothermodification of weight indicator;

Fig. 20 is a view showing the tube of this invention employed as apressure indicator; 7

Fig. 21 is a view showing the tube of this invention employed in another modification of thermometer;

Fig. .22 is a sectional elevation through a meansfor compensating for the effect of the vertical component of the earths magnetic field, in the direction of inclination recording device of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 23 is an elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a means employable alternately to the device of Fig. 3.

in electronics a glass or metal encased vacuum ttube with its fixed electrodes is connected .to an electrical circuit and the tube functions in this capacity to alter or change by electrical means, only, the electron flow through the tube and circuit.

Instead of controlling electron flow through the tube electrically by varying grid'and plate voltages, itisp'ossible to control electron show through the tube mechanically by varying the spacing between the anode and cathode, and by varying the area of the anode :in accordance with the equation:

In which l=current or electron flow; X e'lectrdde spa'cing; V=plate voltage; and A=area of anode.

Experiments have proven the validity of the above equation, and it is definitely established that the current 3 flow is a function of, or bears a definite relation to, the area of the plate, which can be varied mechanically.

This theory can be employed, among other usages, by providing a tube as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, for employmerit in a device, as shown in Figs. 1-5, for determining the magnitude and direction of inclination of a well bore.

The vacuum tube 1 comprises an envelope 2 which has therein the bracket 3 which supports a cathode 4 of some suitable cathodic material. In accordance with all conventional cathode constructions, a heating element 5 is provided, such as one which may have a filament therein with the terminals of the conductors 6 and 7 connected thereacross. These conductors lead from the filament terminals and are sealed through the envelope at 8 and 9. The conductor 19 is also connected to the cathode 4 and leads out through the envelope at 11 for connection to a ground as will be hereinafter described.

The other electrode of this vacuum tube comprises the anode 12 which consists of two plates spaced part by the strip 13 to extend adjacent to, and parallel with, the plate surface providing sides 14 of the cathode. This strip 13 has the bracket 15 thereon which is rigidly connected to the pin 16 which extends therethrough with axis perpendicular to the plane of the electrode plate surface 12 and 14 and which has the tapered ends 16 journalled at bearing points 17 in the brackets or bearing members 17.

The strip 13 extends on the opposite side of the pivot pin from the anode plate 12' and is connected by means of the arm 18 to a conductor plate 19 which is the shape of a segment of a circle and which is constructed of some non-magnetic material, as copper. The conductor plate or strip 21, to which the journals or bearings 17 are rigidly connected, also has rigidly connected thereto the dampening bracket 22, which comprises the spaced apart magnet plates 23 which extend parallel with the plate or segment 19 on either side thereof. The strip or backing plate 21 may be rigidly connected at one end 24 into the envelope, and also, adjacent the journals 17, it may be connected to the envelope by the plate 25.

The end 26 of the envelope, adjacent the electrodes, is dome-shaped, and a magnetic follower as a ball 27 of magnetic material, connected by the arm 23 to the strip 13, and of necessity on the same side of the pivot point 16 as the anode 12, is positionable as shown in Fig. 6 with relation to the end 26. This position is attained since the anode assembly, comprising the ball 27, arm 28, strip 13, bracket 15, arm 18, and plate 19, are statically and dynamically balanced about the pivot pin 16.

The strip 13 is also a conductor, in addition to its structural function, as is the bracket 15 and pivot pin 16. As the pivot pin 16 has contact at the tapered ends 16, so that arcing of the current between these ends 16 and the bearing points 17' may result in a break in the circuit, the spiral conductor 29 is connected at one end 30 to the pivot pin 16 and at the other end 31 to the journal member 17 to insure the completion of the circuit.

The hereinabove described assembly of elements which carries the anode 12 and includes the pivot pin 16 as its axle member is in effect a pivoted lever, and may be termed the anode assembly 35.

Obviously the spaced apart magnetic plates 23 produce a magnetic field in which the plate 19 oscillates against the dampening effect of the lines of magnetic force cutting the gap between the plates, and therefore any force which sets the anode assembly 35 into oscillation, is dampened thereby As shown in Fig. 1, a housing assembly includes the body 44 which is connected to the head 36, which receives therein the cylinder 37. This cylinder has the closure 38 at the upper end thereof and the partition 39 at the lower end, to confine thereinbetween the direction of inclination chamber 45.

The cylinder 41 is threaded onto the lower portion of the partition member 39 to abut at its upper end the lower end of the cylinder 37, and the lower end 42 of this cylinder 41 completes the enclosure of the magnitude of inclination chamber 59. This end has the closure cap 43 to fit thereover for threaded engagement at 46 with the housing body 44 to complete the housing assembly 46.

A preferred modification of magnitude of inclination device is shown installed in the magnitude of inclination chamber 50 of the housing assembly 40 shown in Fig. 1, and details of operation and construction thereof are shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

With the longitudinal axis of the housing assembly 40 extending vertically, as shown in Fig. 1, a vacuum tube 1 is shown mounted with longitudinal axis extending horizonaiiy between the support bracket 47, when this bracket is mounted on the frame 48, which in turn is fixed to the cylinder 41 by the mounting clips 49. Two horizontally extending bars 51 support a shaft 52 to slide vertically in the journal bearings 53 thereof. This shaft 52 has the disc 54 mounted on its lower end concentrically with relation to its axis, and from its upper end the arm 55 extends thereabove to support a magnetic means as a magnetic actuator or ball 56 which is located adjacent the apex 5 of the tube end 26 and in closest proximity to the magnetic ball 27' within the tube 1 when these elements are in the relative positions shown in Fig. l. The assembly of disc 54, shaft 52, and arm 55, supported by the journal bearings 53. can thus be termed the actuator mounting means for the magnetic actuator 56.

The horizontal leg of the frame 43 has the support post 59 thereon with axis extending coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the housing and having the tapered point =30 at the top thereof. The hollow, truncated cone member 61, having the disc 62 on the top thereof, is supported on the point 60 which supplies a pointed pivot means therefor. Then the lower surface of the disc 54 may rest on the top of the truncated cone member 61 when the longitudinal axes of the post 59, shaft 52, and housing 40 extend vertically and in coincidence.

When the longitudinal axis of the housing 40 extends at an angle to the vertical, the disc 62 pivots peripherally on the disc 54 and the resulting thrust slides the shaft 52 upwardly in the journal bearings 53 with the result that the ball 56 is moved away from the apex 57 ot' the vacuum tube end 26. This peripheral pivoting and shaft movement results from the fact that the member 61 acts as a plumb bob, or as that element of a gyroscope which always maintains a vertical axis, while the shaft 52 is constrained to slide with axis parallel and coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the inclined housing. This results in the angle between the disc surfaces being equal to the angle between the constantly vertically extending cone axis and the axis of the support post 59.

It can thus be seen that, regardless of the direction of inclination of the housing axis, the degree of pivoting of the disc 62 on the disc 54 and thrust movement of the shaft 52, is proportional to the magnitude of inclination of the longitudinal axis of the housing 40 to the vertical.

As shown in Fig. 10, the disc 54 is relieved centrally at 54' to minimize the frictional force of extensive surface contact between the discs opposing the pivoting of the disc 62 so as always to remain in a vertical plane. This relieving of the disc 54 leaves only the annular, peripheral contacting surface area 62' to resist pivoting.

It is obvious that the magnetic ball 56 moves away from the apex 57 of the tube 1 in proportion to the magnitude of the angle of inclination of the housing axis to the vertical. Now, as the ball 27 on the pivoted anode assembly 35 within the tube 1 is also magnetic and attracted by polarity to the ball 56, and it acts as a mag-' netio follower in endeavoring to follow the hall 5.6 it

p'iuots the'anode assembly .35 about the axis of the pivot pin 16 !and in so doing lessens the effective opposed plate area of anode plates 12 with relation to cathode plate surfaces 14. This lesseningof efiective plate area lessens the electron flow within the tube 1, so that it can be seen that the magnitude of inclination of the housing axis, and consequently substantially of the well atthe'tube '1 to supply current to the heating element 5.

Also, 'one electrode terminal, preferably the cathode terminal 11, may be "connected to a ground wire 7t), while preferably the anode terminal 24 may have the conductor wire 66 connected thereto to lead through the partition opening 67 and through'the chamber 45, and the opening 68 in the closure 38, and upwardly through the cable connector 75' and the insulated cable 75 to the top-o'fthe well.

'Fig. 1-8 shows diagrammatically a typical circuit for a vacuum *t-ube 1 in which the electronic flow is thus mechanically varied. The plate conductor wire 66 from the c'ab'le 75 is connected to a rheostat 71, and the variably positioned contact 72 thereof is connected by the icon'ductor'74 to one terminal 76 of the battery or source :of electric-motive force 80 at the top of the well. The other terminal 77 of this source is connected by condnc'torfis to the ammeter 79 which indicates the flow of current at any instant; :the conductor 70 from the other side of the ammeter, and corresponding to the ground wire 70 shown in Fig. 1., is connected to the cathode terminal 1-1 to complete the circuit.

alternate structure for measuring the magnitude of inclination is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this con struction the frame :81 is made of bar magnet material and is attached to the wall of the cylinder 41, as is the frame 48, shown in Fig. l. The upper and lower pole piecesfiZ and 83 extend perpendicularly from .the frame, the upper :pole piece providing an end plate surface 84 and the lower pole piece providing the magnetic element '85 with the apex 86 thereof in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of the housing. A non-.rnagnetic support member .87 extends from the magnetic frame 81 and provides a conventional universal joint connection 88, diagrammatically indicated, for the soft iron rod 89 which has the plumb bob 90-011 the end thereof. The leaf spring member 91 is connected at 92 to the end of the support member .87, and extends upwardly past the pole surface 34 to support on the upper end thereof the magneticball 93.

in operation, as the plumb bob 90 always extends vertically .by virtue of its universal joint suspension 88 its distance, and the distance of the soft iron suspension .rod '89, from .tbe pole apex 86, varies in proportion to the angle or magnitude of inclination of the housing axis to the vertical, and this is true regardless of the azimuth or direction of inclination.

Howeyer, since from well known laws of magnetism, it is obvious that "the magnetic field operative in the magnetic circuit here'inabove described, and hence operative between the pole surface 84 and adjacent spring surface 94, decreases in accordance with the increase in separation between the pole S and plumb bob 9%}, it can be seen that this change of distance between these two elements also changes the position of the spring surface 94 with relation to the pole surface 34. Also, as the nacutuu tube 1, .in this modification, is supported in the cylinder 41 with longitudinal .axis in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of tthe housing, the motion of the anagnetic-ball .93 attracts the adjacent ball .27 within the tube 1, with the result that the effective .area of anode plates .12 which are opposed to cathode plate surface 14 is also varied accordingly, as is the electron or current flow between the electrodes. With this .struc: ture the mounting of the battery 6, and the wiringihetween battery and tube, and the wiring from the tube, is the same as shown for the similarly functioningstruo ture shown in Fig. l.

A third structural modification for measuring magni- .tude of inclination is shown in Figs. 13 and .14. .In .ttliis construction the frame 95 is pivotally suspended, withupper bearing point 96 thereof rotatable in the bearings 97 which are supported in the top of the cylinder 41, as in the partition 39, shown in Fig. .1, 'but omitted in Figs. 13 and 14. The lower bearing point 98 of the frame 95 is supportedfor rotation in the cap .99 of the upright member 1%. The support bracket or .means 101 extends from the frame 95 to support the vacuum tube 1, and consequently the axis of the tube .1 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, while the housing axis, as can be seen from Fig. -13, passes through, and in coincidence with the axes of the bearing points 96 and 98.

The side brackets or support means 102 extendfrom the frame 95 to provide the bearing members .103 .at a location so that the axis through thesemembers extends perpendicular to, and intersects, the longitudinal axis .of the tube 1. The U-shaped suspension members .104 are pivotally suspended from the brackets 103 and has the magnetic plumb bob .105 thereon to be positioned .in closest proximity to the ball 27 within the tube 1 when the housing axis extends vertically.

In this modification the frame 95 revolves about :the longitudinal axis of the housing as the device is lowered into the well here, while the plumb bob suspension .always extends vertically. Hence the pivotingcf .the anode assembly 35, as the ball 27 is attracted toward the various positions of the plumb bob 105, varies the effective plate area of the anode with respect to the cathode plate surface in proportion to the magnitude or angle of'inclination of the tube axis to the vertical. 7

In this construction .the battery .65 is mounted on the frame 95, and its terminals .63 and 64 are connected to the filament terminals 8 and 9 of the vacuum tube 1. The insulated conductor 70' extends from the cathode terminal 11, and through the fitting Hi6 on the support bar, which extends downwardly from the frame 95. The contact end 19$ of this conductor 70 rotates in, and completes the circuit through, the mercury bath .109 in the cup 11% on the upright 100. Similarly the insulated conductor 66' extends from the anode terminal 24, through a similar fitting 1% on the support .bar 1.0.7, and the contact end .108 of this conductor 66 rotates in ant! completes the circuit through the mercury bath 109 .inthe cup 110 which is located on the upright below the cup 110.

It is obvious that the frame 95 pivots about the bearings 97 and the bearing 98 because it is unbalanced with relation to the longitudinal axis passing through these bearing members. Thus, the heaviest portion as the .portion on which the battery 65 is mounted, always swings to a position opposite the direction of inclination of the well bore.

As shown in Fig. 9, the upright ltlt) has the axial .bore 111 therethrough, through which the insulated conductor wires 66 and 70 may be drawn. The end 116 of .the wire 66 is then brought out through the radial opening 114 in the upright 1th and insulation jacket .115 .into contact with the mercury 109 in .the cup This cup 110 has the hollow rim space 117 formed therein to retain the mercury 169 in case the device .is inverted. The conductor 70 extends upwardly for connection .to the cup 110 by anarrangement identical with the arrangement by which theconductor 66 .is connected .to the clip 110'. This construction avoids the use of "brushes and yet completes the circuits 66, 66, and 70', 70, from the rotatable frame to the stationary upright 160.

As shown in Fig. 1 and in Figs. 3-5, a device 128 for measuring the direction of inclination is mounted in the chamber 45. This device comprises a frame with upper and lower bearing points 122 and 123 rotatable, respectively, in the ball bearing assembly 124 in the closure 38 and in the cap 125 at the top of the upright 126. The axis of the housing 40 extends in coincidence with the axes of the bearing points 122 and 3. The rod 127 extends with axis parallel to the hous axis and is journalled for rotation at the top 128 in the bearing screw 129 in the frame arm 130, and at the bottom it is journalled for rotation in the bearing screw 131 in the frame arm 132. The upper and lower bar magnets or cornpasses 133 and 134 are connected to rotate with the rod 127 as is the magnetic wheel 135 to be hereinafter described.

The vacuum tubes 141 and 14?, constructed as the tube 1, are mounted on a connection means the bracket 136 which extends from the frame 121. These tubes are mounted with axes extending parallel to the axis of the rod or shaft 127 and on opposite sides thereof. and consequently the tube axes extend parallel to the housing axis. A battery 137 is mounted on the frame 121 and its terminal 138 is connected to the filament terminal 139 of the tube 141. The filament terminal 140 of this tube 141 is connected to the filament terminal 143 of the tube 142, and the filament terminal 1'34 of this tube 142 is in turn connected to the battery terminal M5, thus completing the connection of the series connected tube filaments with the battery.

The cathode terminals 146 and 153, of the tubes 141 and 142, respectively, are parallel connected to the insulated conductor wire 148 which leads to the fitting 149 of the support bar 150, so that the contact end 151 of the wire 148 may extend into the mercury cup 152, as hereinabove explained for the structure, shown in 9. The ground conductor wire 153 leads from the cup to the ground wire 70 within the magnitude of inclination chamber 50, and the ground wire 76 extends from thence through the openings 67 and 68 to the ground screw 154 which grounds the wire to the housing cap The conductor wires 155 and 156 lead from the anode terminals 157 and 147 of the tubes 141 and 142, respectively, to the fittings 159 and 166 and have contact arms 161 and 162 extending into the mercury cups 163 and 164. The conductors 165 and 166. from the cups 163 and 164 lead through the penings 67 and 63 to the cable connector 75', and upwardly through the cable '75 to the top of the well.

The plate or disc 167 is connected to the upper bearing point member 122 to rotate therewith. and the horseshoe magnets 168 and 169 on the screws 170 which extend from the closure 38, are mounted so that the rotation of the plate 167 is resisted or dampened by the magnetic force operable across the gaps between the poles of these magnets.

The wheel 135 comprises a peripheral, magnetic member or rim 171, in the shape of a modified spiral, with the non-magnetic spoke 1 of the greatest radial length connected to the rim at f, and with each successive spoke, as considered clockwise in Fig. 5, being of shorter radial length. The rim 171 departs from a spiral contour at its junction a with the shortest spoke a, and follows a straight path to the point f.

When Figs. 3 and 5 are considered, it can be seen that the greatest amount of current flows between the cathode 174 and the anode 175 of the tube 141 when the ball 176 is adjacent the apex 177 of the envelope end 178, and directly above the point 1 on the rim 171. A lesser amount of current must flow between the cathode 379 and the anode 180 of the tube 142, since the ball 181, which is attracted toward the rim at the nearest point 182 therebelow, pivots the anode 180 with relation to the 8 cathode 179, to reduce the effective plate area of the tube.

As the bearing points 122 and 123 of the frame 121 pivot within the housing, and as the frame 121 is unbalanced in weight and mass with relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing, the frame 121 constitutes a pivotally mounted mounting means which will swing opposite the direction of inclination of the housing in the well bore, while the bar magnets or compasses 133 and 134 point continuously to magnetic north.

Initially, the wheel 135 has been keyed or fixed to the rod 127 to establish a definite relation between the position of the wheel contour and the direction of the compass needles, or the axis of polarity of the bar magnets. It can, therefore, be seen that the flow of current between the electrodes of the tubes 141 and 142 (which move about the axis of the rod 127 as the frame swings opposite the direction of inclination of the housing), bearsa definite relation to the azimuth or direction of inclina: tion of the housing axis.

The conductors from the tube anodes, as the conductors 165 and 166, shown in Fig. 1, lead up within the cable 75 to the top of the well. There the cable passes over a conventional measuring wheel or pulley and then about a conventional drum on which it is wound. A conventional mechanical means is adapted to operate in connection with the measuring wheel to record the length of cable unreeled, and this mechanical means is also connected to unreel a conventional roll of impressionable material such as photo-sensitive film which is graduated to record length of cable unreeled or the depth of the cable in the well at any time in conjunction with the recording or the mechanical means.

This arrangement is well known in the art as typified by Patent No. 2,259,904, issued Oct. 21, 1941, to McName-e et al. for Method and Apparatus for Logging Well Bores, a means for unreeling the cable being included.

The conductors 165 and 166 extend to the end of the cable on the drum and terminate in contact with slip rings and brushes, whereby connections are established between the conductors rotatable upon the drum and the stationary conductors, as the conductor 66 shown in diagrammatic Fig. 18 in which figure no slip ring and brush is shown.

Each conductor is connected into a circuit, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 18, which has an ammeter or galvanometer therein similar to the ammeter or galvanometer 79. Such galvanometer, of the direct current type termed the DArsonval galvanometer, can have therein a coil which moves proportionately to current fiow, and which moves a small mirror therewith. This mirror is adapted to reflect light, from a light source outwardly through a small aperture, and upon the film as it unrcels.

If the structure shown in Fig. 3 were tilted to the left at the top of the figure, with longitudinal axis in the plane of the paper, the inclination or drift as the housing descended the Well bore would extend in the direction of magnetic north and in this direction the current from the tube 141 would show a high reading slightly less than maximum, while the current from tube 142 would show a lower reading. This is obvious since, as shown in Fig. 5, the point 1 on the rim 171 adjacent the next to longest spoke 2, has attracted the ball 176 only slightly away from the apex 1'77, with the result that there is only a slight pivoting of the anode 175 with respect to the cathode 174, and consequently only a slight decrease of the current flowing in the tube 141 from its maximum flow.

The current from the tube 142, as shown in Fig. 5, is less than the current from the tube 141 at such instant, and for such azimuth. This is true since the point b on the rim 171 adjacent the next to the shortest spoke b, located 180 on the wheel 135 from the point c, has pivoted the ball 181 substantially away from the apex avers 178, and has caused an aiifii eciable decrease in current fiou in'gthrough the tube 142. V s I As the rim 171 of the wheel 135 is rot iiidst of its extent, the flow of current can be plot-ted against time, or depth of descent of the housing in the wen bore, as a linear, or modified linear relation, assuch corresponds to the spiral portion of the rim 171. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, the filin can be graduated transversely from to 360 with substantially iiiiiforin traiis'verse space units representing a degree of change in direction of inclination. Thus, a smooth curve can be plotted by the projection of the light to impress the filrn and the only inappropriate portion of the chive will be that portion plotted when the magnetic influence of rimportion 173 affects the magnetic ball which tracks over it the'ra-bove in the vacuum tube. v

To avoid confusion by the readin caused by the rim portion 173', the two vacuum tubes described hefeinabo'v'e are required to react responsive 'to two spaced ahaitpositions on the wheel 135, and therefore at ariy instant to have active efiec'tive plate surfaces of different areas. Thus one vacuum tube will be "transrnittingv a how of current producing a smooth curve on the film in accordance with the substantially linear transverse calibration of the film in degrees, While the other vacuum tube may be causing an impression on the film, as it is influenced by the rim portion 173'. I v

u A consideration of Fig. 5, which i s aibottorn view, should indicate, that, as the drift of a well bore, in a farfetched example, turns ever eastwardly, as indicated in Fig. 5, the frame 121 will continuously turn in a counterclockwise direction, in this bottom view, with regard to the magnet 133. H

Thus, if the maximum current flow through the tube 141 corresponds with an azimuth of 60, then while the housing frame 121 traverses azimuth readings 60 to 120, the ball 176, in the tube 141, will be attracted along the rim portion 173'. Therefore, the accurate azimuth recording for these azimuths from 60 to 120 should be recorded responsive to current -from the tube 142'. Itfollows that the ball 181 of the tube 142 will be attracted along the rim portion 173' while the time 121 traverses azimuth readings 240 to 300 and therefore the accurate azimuth recordings for these azimuths from 240 to 300 should be recorded responsive to current from the tube 141. s h

In Fig. 2 the conductor 184, which correspondsto the conductor 78 in the circuit of Fig. 18, completes the circuit betweenthegalvanometer 187 and the conductor 165,

from the tube 141. This conductor extends up the cable to the end thereof on the drum at the'top of the well, and connection is completed from the cable end, as has been explained hereinabove, and through a circuit similar to that shown in Fig. 18, to this galvanometer. Likewise,

the conductor 185 completes the circuit b'etweenthe tube 142 and the galvanometer 188.

By properly positioning the galvanometers 187 and 188, as shown in Fig. 2, and by properly 'occludingthe reflection of light therefrom on the film, "a structural arrangement can be had, as by positioning the screen 186, which will occlude the etfe'ct of thecurrent from one tube "corresponding to certain azimuth readings, and which will occlude theeifect of the current from the -other tube "eorr'esponding'to certain other azimuth readings.-

Fig. 2 shows that'the azimuth of the well bore, as the well has increased in depth from the top of the well to say 500 feet, has shifted easterly from an azimuth of 10 from plots the smoothcurve or line A upon the film is an accurate record or the azimuth at the weusdeflttis indicated lofigitudiiiallyof' the film; h

At the same time the ball 181 pivots toward the apex 1'78 it reacts r" behind the Bali 176 with relation to the wheel 135', and track'sfrorfi a point above the wheel point a adjacehtthe spoke a" to a point above the Wheel point badjacent the spoke b". However, the l'ccafienlof the rgalva noiiieter 188 with relation to the film is such that the Beam reflected therefrom does not fall upon the film as the gaivarioineter record's these currents from 0 to l milli-ampere.

As the housing follows the well bore which ha'sfirr creased in depth from 500 fe'etro 1000' feet, the drift has continued to change easterly from an azimuth of "360% to an azimuth of 60, and the call 176 of'the was 141 tracked-to a point above the wheel point i aditieeiit tire spoke so that current of 5 ml amperes flows through the galvanonreter 141, Howeveh fhe ffilm is so located with relation to the galvanoriieter 187Jil' at the beam reflected therefrom falls off the 'filrn alon the imaginary line B. p p g At the" same time the ball ifil of the tube 142 has tracked from a point above the wheel point e adjacent the spoke 0" so that an increased current off 2 milliainperes flows in "the gaivanonietei- 188' which is sole-v cated that it has iniprinted the line or smooth curve B on the filth the current flowing therein has thus increased.

Now, as the housing coii'ti'nu'es to be lowered, and as the azimuth has changed easterly from "60 to 120?, galvanonreter 18$ continues on in plotting the line -01" smooth curve C, the 52111181 or the tube 132 tracks fo a point above the wheel point at adjacent "the s oke a, as the current flowing increases to 3 miIIi-ani eres. While tiausniieis, the ball 17601. the tube 131 trahks along t wheel ion- 173', which extends fromhe paint 7 on the wheel; adjacent the longest s oke? to the point a adjacent "the shortest s oke a". This result!" in a decrease 'in cnirentfiow in the tube 141 from the maximum 5 rriiliZ-ampei'es to "the minimum Zero miliie amperes. g

F the Ball 176 tracks alon -the wheel portion 173 the beam first reflected from the galvan=ometer 187-t'a1ls n the filr'n at B then returns at C and lois on the film rg the line "or smooth "curve C2, and islhl'anked on at c bythe screen 186. After the ba1t176' reaches point above the point a, adjacent the spoke d",, ;at which minimum eurrent hows, it starts to track alo gthe spiral of the wheel 135. The current then inerease'sjin thetube 141 and the-beam would be reflected along dotted line portion D, in coincidence with the line or smooth curve 1) impressed by the galvanometerlgh, as the azimuth changes from to and the cur rear flowing in the tube 142 increases accordingly.

From 165 to or for the plotted ,portionE, both galvafiornte'rs'inipress the film in coincidence, and then the screen 186 blanks out the vgalvanorneter 1 88, and the galvano-rneter 187 lalone impresses the-film for it-he plotted portion However, the current fiowingin the galvanometer 188 continues to increase until the azimuth reaches 240 and the ball 181 is at a point above the wheel point {adjacent the longest spoke i The :impression P which this .galvanometer 188 would other,-

wise have made, is shown'dotted and in coincidencewith the plotted portion 1*.

Asthe ball 181 of the tube 142 tracks alonguthe wheel portion 173' as it moves from the Wheel point j to the wheel point a, and the current in the galvanometer 138 decreases vfrom a maximum 5 rmillisamperes to ;a minimum zero, the reflected beam .is blocked .out for the plottedportion G}, ,plots .for the portion 6?, .and flect'ed on the tilm for the portion "G "In the mamt the current inthe ;galvanometer"137 mattress ans-hash 1 1 ampere: as the azimuth approaches 300 and as the beam impresses the plotted portion G on the film.

For purposes of illustration only the here is shown as continuously changing azimuth in an easterly direction, having made a complete cycle in 3000 feet, and for further purposes of illustration, a second cycle in the same direction is shown between depths of 3000 to 6000 feet. However, it is pointed out that Fig. 2 is illustrative only, since it is not practicable to drill a well bore having such twist therein in view of the inability of the drill stem to stand such torsional strain.

In practice, however, it can be seen how a continuous and accurate azimuth history can be obtained, and it is pointed out that by virtue of the arrangement of galva nometers described hereinabove, with relation to the screen 186 and to the film, a continuous line or smooth curve is obtained regardless of whether one, the other, or both galvanometers may be impressing the film. This is true since the screen 186 or the film width is arranged to blank out the impression of the galvanometer as the ball of the tube which is connected therewith tracks upon the wheel portion 173' adjacent the wheel points a and f.

The magnitude of inclination device shown in Fig. 1, and in Figs. 8 and 10, and also the modifications thereof, shown in Figs. 11-14, are each adapted for connection at the top of the well to a galvanometer, as the galvanometer 79, shown in Fig. 18, which is adapted to plot a curve upon the film shown in Fig. 2 by reflecting a beam thereon. As limitations in drilling place an upper limit on the magnitude of inclination, as measurable in degrees, it is only necessary to employ a single vacuum tube 1, to plot a curve showing magnitude of inclination at various depths. This is true since magnitude of inclination is not measured in azimuth, and therefore no such device as the wheel 135 is necessary in the measurement thereof. In this regard it is only necessary to calibrate the film transversely in degrees commensurate with the maximum magnitude of inclination encountered in well bores; and in connection therewith the total current flow in galvanometer 79 can be calibrated accordingly.

As shown in Fig. 2, a maximum magnitude of inclination of slightly over 6 is regarded as the maximum which may be encountered in the rotary method of drilling wells. Thus, as the current which flows between the plate 14 and 12 in the tube 1 varies from a maximum current at zero deflection to a minimum current at approximately 6, the galvanometer 79 can thus be positioned and calibrated to reflect the beam therefrom to plot an accurate curve 200 of this magnitude at different depths. As this can be accomplished in correlation with the plotting, at the same time, of the direction of inclination curve described hereinabove, a combined record of both direction and magnitude of inclination plotted against depth can be read from the chart. From such record the exact position of any point in the well can be located in three dimensions.

In regard to the pulley and drum at the top of the well over which the cable passes, and in regard to the mechanical means which records the depth to which the cable has been lowered, and in regard to the connection of such mechanical means with the film and the means which unreels the calibrated film to be impressed by the galvanometcr, it is stated that all such structures are well known in the art and require no specific showing, since any number of structures will accomplish this result. The same is true of the galvanometers employed, and of the provision of mirrors on their coils, and of the means for reflecting beams of light through openings on to the film. This invention therefore does not consider any specific structures for this purpose but includes any type of structures adapted to accomplish the well known functions jhereinabove recited. v

Tbcva'cuuni tube of this invention has a multiplicity 12 of uses, and this invention considers its adaptation with devices other than the direction and magnitude of inclination measuring means hereinabove disclosed.

In Fig. 15 a tube 1 is shown employed in a weight in dicating evice. In this device the tube 1 is mounted on the bar 230 of observable elasticity. This bar 230 has the upper loop 231 therein by which it may be suspended, and the lower loop 232 therein through which the weight to be measured may be connected. The bar 230 thus provides the mounting means for the tube 1 which when mounted as shown in Fig. 15 takes position which enables the axis of the anode assembly pivot pin 16 to extend horizontally.

The rod 233 pivots at its upper end about the lug 234 on the bar 230 and at its lower end it is pivotally connected at 235 to the arm 236 of the bell crank lever 237. This bell crank lever 237 is pivoted on the lug 238 which extends from the bar 230, and its upper arm 238 has the ball 239 thereon. The collars 240 and 241 on the bar 230 are within the limits of the frame ends 242 and 243 of the frame 244, which is mounted on means not shown cxternally of the bar 230.

As the bar 230 stretches responsive to the load or weight suspended therefrom, the stretch results in n separating movement between the lugs 234 and 238 with the result that the ball 239 is pivoted away from the apex 57. This pivots the anode with respect to the cathode within the tube 1 to decrease the effective plate area. There fore the weight indicated is directly proportionate to the decrease in the current flowing between anode and cathode.

In Fig. 19 a tube 1 is shown employed in another modification of weight indicator 190. in such device the top closure 194 of the housing 193 has the bracket 192 sus pended therefrom as the mounting means for the tube 1 to position the tube 1 with its longitudinal axis in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of the housing 193. The housing 193 is suspended, by means, not shown. which can be connected into the hole 196 in the top lug 197.

A piston 198 is slidably scaled by the sealing means 199 against the wall 200 of the lower portion 201 of the housing 193. The shoulder 202 defines the upper limit of piston travel and a non-compressible fluid 203 is confined in the chamber 215 below the piston and above the bottom closure 204.

The piston rod 205 is connected at 206 into the piston 198 and extends through the stuffing box or seal 207 to provide the lug 208 with the hole 209 to which a weight to be measured is attached. To protect the end threads 210 the seal ring 211 is provided between the threads and the liquid 203 to extend around the end closure 204 and in contact with the wall 201. The fitting 212 is provided in the end closure 204 through which fluid may be inserted to fill the lower portion 215 of the housing 193. A fitting 214 is provided in the piston 198 and a Bourdon tube 216 is connected thereto. The ports 213 in the piston permits fluid under pressure to rise therethrough, and through the fitting 214 into the tube 216. This tube terminates at 217 in a pivotal connection to the link 218 which is pivotally connected to the bell crank lever 219 which is pivoted at 220 on the upper extension 221 of the piston rod 205. This bell crank lever 219 has the magnetic ball 222 thereon to be positioned in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of the housing 193 and directly under the magnetic ball, not shown, within the tube 1.

In operation, when this device 193 is suspended at and has a weight connected thereto at 209, part of the fluid 203 within the chamber 215 will be forced upwardly through the port 213 and fitting 214 into the Bourdon tube 216 with the result that the tube under such pressure changes position, and operating through the link 218 and bell crank lever 219, this position changing force pivots the bell crank lever 219 to move the magnetic hall 222 thereon away from the apex 57 of the tube 1 to ataud 134, conventional gyroscopes.

to dampen movement of the shaft 127 and of the elements connected thereto.

Optionally, as shown in Fig. 22, it may be possible to compensate for the effect of the vertical component of the earths magnetic field by suspending each compass 133 and 134 as shown. The frame 320 is provided in such cases, for each compass, and connected to the shaft 127, and the wire 321 is connected at 322 into the frame and at 323 into the compass. As the wire 321 is of certain flexibility the compass 133 may pivot thereon in a vertical plane to maintain the compass always in a horizontal plane regardless of the inclination of the longitudinal axis of the housing. At the same time the wire 321 is of suificient strength to maintain the compass or bar magnet directed at magnetic north.

In view of the fact that the emulsion employed on films usually runs to the very edge thereof while it is desirable to have the recorded imprint on the film start at longitudinally extending reference lines short of the edge, the small screens 187' and 188' are provided to occlude the imprint from the edges to such reference lines.

It is herein pointed out, in regard to compensation for the effect of magnetic materials on the compasses, that wherever such interference may occur, compensation may be effected by conventional means.

In cases where the device shown in Fig. 1 may be operated within a tubular element of magnetic material, it may be desirable to substitute for the compasses 133 These may be set to point due north, and if there is no precession, they will continue to point due north while the longitudinal axis of the housing follows various directions of inclination. The wheel 135 is obviously correlated with these gyroscopes in assembly.

Broadly. this invention covers a vacuum tube which has one electrode pivotal. In the drawings, the anode is shown as the pivotal member, but it is obvious that the cathode may optionally be the pivotal member as well. Within the scope of this invention, such a vacum tube is considered which has a magnetic means connected to the pivotal electrode to be attracted by a magnetic means externally of the vacuum tube envelope. Thus, this invention considers within its scope, the employment of such a vacuum tube with any type of measuring or recording device whereby the measurement or record to be obtained is a function of the degree of pivoting of one electrode with relation to the other which an external force to be measured may produce.

What is claimed is:

i. In a device operable responsive to the magnitude of inclination of a well bore, the combination of, a housing, cable means connected thereto for lowering said housing into the well bore, with the longitudinal axis thereof to extend along the axis of said well bore, a vacuum tube I mounted in said housing and comprising, anevacuated, non-magnetic, insulated envelope, a cathode mounted in said envelope, current conduction means, extending in said envelope for conveying heat to said cathode to cause the emanation of electrons therefrom and including a pair of terminals extending from said envelope, an anode in said envelope, means in said envelope for mounting said electrodes to face one another for electron' flow relatively adjust said electrodes whereby'the current fiow',

clination of said housing axis to the vertical, and a circuit connected to said electrode circuit extensions including a current measuring device for recording in linear relation the current variations caused by the variations of electron flow corresponding with the changes in magnitude of inclination of said housing axis to the vertical said gravity responsive, pivotal means including a pointed pivot means mounted in said housing, a hollow, truncated cone member resting on said point and having a first disc on the top thereof, a shaft supported from said housing to slide co-axially with the longitudinal axis thereof and having said magnetic means connected to the upper end thereof and having a second disc on the lower end thereof of substantially the diameter of said first disc and adapted to pivot peripherally on said first disc, the axes of said pivot means, said disc, and said shaft being in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of said housing when said housing axis extends vertically.

2. A weight indicator comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linearly plottable current measurements successive measurements of weight, said circuit including a vacuum tube therein providing a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, means mounting said vacuum tube with its lever pivot axis horizontal, mounting means adapting said indicator to support a suspended weight, a magnetic actuator, and means carrying said actuator and operable responsive to the pull of the suspended weight to move said actuator in turn responsively to such pull to correspondingly attract said follower and thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to the pull of the weight.

3. A weight indicator as claimed in claim 2 in which said magnetic actuator carrying means includes a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on said mounting means with an arm connected to carry said actuator and pivotal proportionate to the stretch in said mounting means caused by the pull of said suspended weight.

4. A caliper comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linearly plottable current measurements successive diametral measurements of tubular elements longitudinally traversed, said circuit including therein at least one pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, mounting means including means positioning said lever to move the electrode plate surface carried thereby in substantially a plane of the longitudinal axis of the tubular element to be measured, a magnetic actuator also carried by said mounting means, and measuring means operable responsively to successive diametral changes in the tubular element under measurement to move said actuator in turn responsively to such changes to in-turn attract said follower thus responsively, and thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to the successive diametral measurements.

-5. A caliper as claimed in claim 4 in which said mounting means includes a slotted tube with said electrode lever positioned, in which said magnetic actuator carrying means comprises therein a bellcrank lever carrying said vactuator on one arm thereof with theother arm thereof extending through the tube slot, and in which said measuring means includes resilient means borne against by said other arm whereby the expansion or contraction of said resilient means responsive to said diametral changes moves said bellcrank lever and therewith said actuator.

6. A pressure indicator comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linearly plottable current measurements successive measurements of pressures, said circuit including a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator carried by said indicator to attract said follower, mounting means for said lever and a fluid pressure responsive means connected to said actuator for moving said actuator responsively to fluid pressure and correspondingly attracting said follower to thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to said pressure.

7. A pressure indicator as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fluid pressure responsive means includes a piston movable by said fluid pressure.

8.1In a device operable responsive to the magnitude of inclination of a well bore, the combination of a housing, cable means connected thereto for lowering said housing into the well bore with the longitudinal axis thereof to extend along the axis of said well bore, an electric circuit carried by said-cable means and including in. said housing a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfacesand also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes and a magnetic follower on'said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator, means mounting said actuator for movement adjacent said follower, gravity responsive means adapted to move said magnetic actuator and thereby said magnetic follower to a degree proportionate-to the magnitude of inclination of said housing axis from the vertical,

and an indicator at the top of the well included in said electric circuit and actuated thereby to indicate in linearly plotta-ble current measurements successive measurements of magnitude of inclination as movement of saidactuator thereby moves said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current fiowbetween said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to said magnitude of inclination measurements.

9. In a device for recording the direction of. inclination in a well bore, the combination of a housing, a cable connected thereto, and adapted to be unreeled for lowering the housing into the well bore, a frame pivotally mounted in said housing with axis of rotation parallel to and in substantial coincidence with the longitudinal axis of said housing and with said frame unbalanced in weight about its axis, a shaftv pivotally mounted in said frame with axis parallel to said frame axis, means on said shaft to point continuously to a zero azimuth as said frame swings about its axis, a pair of vacuum tubes and support means on said frame supporting said tubes on opposite sides of said shaft and connected outwardly of one. tube to the frame and its unbalancing weight and in alignment with said tubes, each tube including a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also in cluding a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from. said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, and a magnetic follower on-said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator including a modified spiral mounted on said shaft adjacent the followers of said pair of vacuum tubes whereby as the weighted side of said frame rotates to the side of the housing opposite its direction of inclination as it descends the well bore said followers track toward the nearest point of said modified spiral and move the respective levers to which they are connected and the electrodes carried by said respective levers to vary the current flow between said electrodes of each tube, separate conductor means from the electrodes of each tube carried by said cable and extending to the top of the well, at the top of the well said device including a source of voltage and also a separate current recording means for each tube having the respective conductor therefor connected thereto, means completing circuits from said conductor means to said voltage "source and to said current recording means, a current plotting means, means correlating said current plotting means with the paying out of the cable, and means selectively positioned with relation to the current recording means for each tube to cooperate in plotting a curve of azimuths of well bore inclination for the various depths of the well bore successively traversed by said housing.

10. Ina device for obtaining a record of magnitude and direction of inclination of a well bore so that three dimensional co-ordinates at any depth can be chartered, the combination of a housing, a cable connected thereto for lowering saidhousing into the well bore substantially co-axially therewith, a frame pivotally mounted in said housing with axis of rotation parallel to and in substantial coincidence with the longitudinal axis of said housing and with said frame unbalancedin weight about its axis, means on said shaft to point continuously to a zero azimuth as said frame swings about said frame axis, a pair of vacuum tubes and support means on said frame supporting said tubes on opposite sides of said shaft and connected outwardly of one tube to the frame and its unbalancing weight and in alignment with said tubes, a third vacuum tube carried by said housing, each vacuum tube including a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes and a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, said device including in said housing a magnetic actuator and means mounting said actuator for movement adjacent said follower and gravity responsive means for mounting said magnetic actuator adjacent said third vacuum tube and adapted to move said magnetic actuator and therebysaid magnetic follower ofsaid third vacuum tube to a degree proportionate to the magnitude of inclination of said housing axis from the vertical, a magnetic actuator including a modified spiral mounted on said shaft adjacent the followers of said pair of vacuum tubes' whereby as said frame rotates to the side of the housing opposite its direction of inclination as it descends the well bore said followers of said pair of vacuum tubes track after said modified spiral and vary the current flow between the respective electrodes of said pair of vacuum tubes, separate conductor means from the electrodes of each vacuum tube carried by said cable and extending to the top of the well, at the top of the well said device including a source of voltage and also a separate current recording means for each vacuum tube having the respective conductor means therefor connected thereto, means completing circuits from said conductor means to said source of voltage and to said current recording means, a current plotting means,- means-correlating said current plotting means with the paying out of the cable, and means selectively positioned with relation to the current recording means for said pair of vacuum tubes to cooperate in the plotting of a curve of azimuths of well bore inclination on said current plotting means for the various depths of well bore successively traversed by said housing, the current recording means for said third vacuum tube being positioned with relation to said current plotting means to cooperate in the plotting of magnitudes of inclination for the corresponding depths of the well bore.

11. In a pressure indicating device the combination of a suspension means including a support and a resiliently yieldably resisted pressure urged means sealably movable with relation to said support, a vacuum tube mounted on said suspension means and including therein a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also ineluding a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator mounted on said pressure urged means adjacent said follower to be moved with relation to said vacuum tube responsive proportionately to changes in the fluid pressure urging against said pressure urged means to thus responsively attract said follower to thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrodes on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes, and circuit means connected across said electrodes including an indicator to linearly indicate the pressure urging against said pressure urged means in measurement of current flow through said electrodes produced by the movements of said follower.

12. A measuring device comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linearly plottable current measurements successive measurements of a physical property, said circuit including therein at least one pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpen dicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator carried by said device to attract said follower, and means responsive to the physical property being measured to move said actuator to thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said elec trode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to said measurements.

13. A measuring device as claimed in claim 12 in which said lever includes as a mounting axle a pivot pin to which said lever is fixed, said pivot pin having pointed ends to establish journal contact with said device.

14. A measuring device as claimed in claim 12 in which said lever includes means thereon on the opposite side of said pivot from said electrode to retard oscillation of said lever to assure accurate indications on said indicator.

15. A measuring device as claimed in claim 12 which includes a magnet and a non-magnetic plate carried by said lever on the opposite side of the pivot from said electrode and adjacent said magnet whereby interaction between said magnet and said non-magnetic plate retards oscillation of said lever to assure accurate indications on said indicator.

16. A measuring device as claimed in claim 12 in which the pivotal mounting of said lever includes pointed bearing means on said lever and said device includes journal means to receive said bearing means and in which circuit is completed from said circuit externally of said lever to said lever by means of spiral conductor means connected at one end to said circuit externally of said lever and connected at the other end to said lever 29 between said bearing means and the electrode on said lever.

17. A device for measuring the magnitude of inclination of a well bore comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linearly plottable measurements successive inclinations of the well bore at successive depths as the bore is traversed by said device, said circuit including therein a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, a magnetic actuator, means mounting said actuator in said device for gravity actuation and movement corresponding with the magnitude of well bore inclination and in position to attract said follower and thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and thereby resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to the successive magnitudes of inclination of successively traversed depths of said well bore.

18. A device for measuring direction of inclination of a well bore and comprising a pair of vacuum tubes each including a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces, a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, and a magnetic follower carried by said lever and spaced from said pivot, said device including pivotally mounted mounting means unbalanced in weight about its pivot and including a shaft, a magnetic actuator carried by said shaft, connection means supporting said vacuum tubes on opposite sides of said shaft with the followers thereof adjacent said magnetic actuator and connected outwardly of one of said tubes to said mounting means and its unbalancing weight and in alignment with said tubes, said mounting means pivoting with the heavy side thereof swinging in direction opposite the direction of inclination of said well bore as said device descends said bore, said magnetic actuator being adapted to attract said followers to move said followers in degree proportionate to degree of variation from a Zero azimuth and to accordingly move said levers and the electrodes mounted thereon to thereby vary the current flow between the electrodes of each vacuum tube, said device including a recorder and electric circuit means connecting said vacuum tube electrodes to said recorder and means adapting said recorder for impression responsive to current fiow from one pair of electrodes to record one 180 degree range of azimuths and for impression responsive to current flow from the other pair of electrodes to record the other 180 degree range of azimuths.

19. A device for measuring magnitude and direction of inclination of a well bore and adapted to be lowered into the well bore, comprising three vacuum tubes in said housing each including a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces, a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, and a magnetic follower carried by said lever and spaced from said pivot, a first of said vacuum tubes being mounted in said housing, a magnetic actuator, means mounting said actuator in said housing for gravity actuation and movement corresponding with the magnitude of well bore inclination and in position to attract the follower of said first vacuum tube and thereby move said follower and the lever carrying said follower and the electrode on said lever to vary current ilow between the electrodes of said first vacuum tube, said device also including a pivotally mounted mounting means in said housing unbalanced in weight about the pivot thereof and including a shaft having a magnetic actuator thereon, a connection means supporting the other two vacuum tubes on opposite sides of said shaft with the followers thereof adjacent the magnetic actuator on said shaft and connected to said mounting means and the unbalancing weight thereof outwardly of one of said other two vacuum tubes and in alignment with said other two tubes, said mounting means pivoting to swing the unbalancing weight thereof in direction opposite the direction of inclination of said well bore and as said mounting means pivots said shaft carried magnetic actuator being adapted to attract the followers of said supported tubes to move them in degree proportionate to degree of variation from a Zero azimuth and to accordingly move their carrying levers and the electrodes thereon to thereby vary the current flow between the electrodes of said supported tubes, said device including a recorder for each tube and electric circuit means connecting the electrodes of each of said vacuum tubes to its recorder, a current plotting means, means correlating the current plotting means with the lowering of the housing into the well bore, and means selectively positioned with relation to the recorders for said supported vacuum tubes to cooperate in the plotting of curves of current variations from the electrodes of one of said supported tubes over one 180 degree range of azimuths and curves of current variations from the electrodes of the other of said supported tubes over the other 180 degree range of azimuths as successive depths of the well bore are measured, said recorder means for recording the current flow from the electrodes of said first tube being positioned with relation to said first tube current recording means to cooperate in the plotting of curves of current variations therefrom in linear correspondence to the magnitude of inclination in such successively measured depths of well bore.

20. A weight indicator comprising an electric circuit and an indicator to indicate in linear plottable current measurements successive measurements of weight, said circuit including a vacuum tube including therein a pair of electrodes comprising parallel plate surfaces and also including a lever pivotally mounted on an axis perpendicular to said surfaces and supporting one of said electrodes at a point spaced from said pivot for movement in a plane parallel to the surface of the other electrode to vary current flow between said electrodes, a magnetic follower on said lever spaced from said pivot, means mounting said vacuum tube with its lever pivot axis horizontal, mounting means adapting said indicator to support a suspended weight, a magnetic actuator also carried by said mounting means, means responsive to the pull of said suspended weight for producing relative movement between said vacuum tube and said magnetic actuator to thereby move said magnetic actuator responsive to such pull to correspondingly attract said follower and thereby move said follower and said lever connected thereto and said electrode on said lever to vary current flow between said electrodes and to resultantly vary the indicated current in linear correspondence to the pull of the weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,275,570 Lalama Aug. 13, 1918 1,318,196 Case Oct. 7, 1919 1,360,235 McAlpine Nov. 23, 1920 1,467,318 Herdman Sept. 11, 1923 1,864,214 Petty June 21, 1932 1,928,969 Kufiel Oct. 3, 1933 2,068,775 Stettler Ian. 26, 1937 2,078,672 Knowles Apr. 27, 1937 2,090,178 Brickner Aug. 17, 1937 2,109,690 Culbertson Mar. 1, 1938 2,142,857 McArthur Jan. 3, 1939 2,362,616 Cloud Nov. 14, 1944 2,399,420 Ziebolz Apr. 30, 1946 2,439,942 Marshall Apr. 20, 1948 2,533,686 Peterson Dec. 12, 1950 

